FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM
for the
DAINTREE RIVER

Daintree River in flood, March 1996 Photo: Cairns Post

Contained in this document is information about: (Last updated November 2017) Flood Risk Previous Flooding Flood Forecasting Local Information Flood Warnings and Bulletins Interpreting Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins Flood Classifications Other Links

Flood Risk

The Daintree River catchment is located about 100 kilometres northwest of Cairns in far north tropical Queensland and drains an area of 2,125 square kilometres. The river rises in the Great Dividing Range, approximately 20 kilometres southwest of Daintree, the largest town within the catchment. It initially flows in a northerly direction, before turning southeast passing Daintree and finally entering the Coral Sea. Floods may develop quickly and with little warning from high rainfalls on the 1000 metre high mountain ranges around the catchment and are often caused by cyclonic influences in the adjacent Coral Sea. 

The near record major flood of March 1996 caused widespread inundation of properties and roads throughout the lower reaches of the catchment. The rainfall station at Daintree Village recorded a total of 606 millimetres in the 24 hours to 9am 6th March.

Previous Flooding

Previous flood information for the Daintree River catchment is limited, however, river height records are available from the automatic river height station at Bairds, with continuous records dating back to 1968.
A new automatic reporting floodwarning river height station has now been installed at Daintree Village. 

Flood Forecasting

The Bureau of Meteorology operates a flood warning system for the Daintree River based on a rainfall and river height observations network shown on the map. 

The Douglas Shire Council, in conjunction with the Bureau of Meteorology operate an automatic flood warning station for the Daintree River at Daintree Village. This station regularly forwards automatic rainfall and river height data via satelite communications to the Bureau's Flood Warning Centre in Brisbane. 

In addition to this station the automatic telephone telemetry station at Bairds (operated by the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines), enables the Bureau's Flood Warning Centre to issue Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins for the Daintree River during flood events. Qualitative flood forecasts are issued when moderate flood levels are likely to be exceeded at Daintree Village. 

Local Information

Douglas Shire Council may able to provide further information on flooding in your area of the Daintree River catchment.

Flood Warnings and Bulletins

The Bureau of Meteorology issues Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins for the Daintree River basin, regularly during floods. They are sent to radio stations for broadcast, and to local Councils, emergency services and a large number of other agencies involved in managing flood response activities. Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins are available via :

Radio
Radio stations, particularly the local ABC, and local commercial stations, broadcast Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins soon after issue.

Local response organisations
These include the Councils, Police, and State Emergency Services in the local area.

Internet/World Wide Web
Flood Warnings, River Height Bulletins and other weather related data is available on the Bureau's Web page at http://www.bom.gov.au . The Queensland Flood Warning Centre website is http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/flood/ .

Telephone Weather
Flood Warnings are available through a recorded voice retrieval system, along with a wide range of other weather related and climate information.

Interpreting Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins

Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins contain observed river heights for a selection of the river height monitoring locations. The time at which the river reading has been taken is given together with its tendency (e.g. rising, falling, steady or at its peak). The Flood Warnings may also contain predictions in the form of minor, moderate or major flooding for a period in the future. River Height Bulletins also give the height above or below the road bridge or causeway for each river station located near a road crossing. 

One of the simplest ways of understanding what the actual or predicted river height means is to compare the height given in the Warning or Bulletin with the height of previous floods at that location. 

The table below summarises the flood history of the Daintree River basin - it contains the flood gauge heights of the more significant recent floods.

Historical flood heights for all river stations in the Daintree River Floodwarning network, as shown on the map, are available from the Bureau of Meteorology upon request.

Flood Classifications

At each flood warning river height station, the severity of flooding is described as minor, moderate or major according to the effects caused in the local area or in nearby downstream areas. Terms used in Flood Warnings are based on the following definitions.

Minor Flooding : Causes inconvenience. Low-lying areas next to watercourses are inundated. Minor roads may be closed and low-level bridges submerged. In urban areas inundation may affect some backyards and buildings below the floor level as well as bicycle and pedestrian paths. In rural areas removal of stock and equipment may be required. Moderate Flooding : In addition to the above, the area of inundation is more substantial. Main traffic routes may be affected. Some buildings may be affected above the floor level. Evacuation of flood affected areas may be required. In rural areas removal of stock is required. Major Flooding : In addition to the above, extensive rural areas and/or urban areas are inundated. Many buildings may be affected above the floor level. Properties and towns are likely to be isolated and major rail and traffic routes closed. Evacuation of flood affected areas may be required. Utility services may be impacted.

The table below shows the flood classifications for selected river height stations in the Daintree River catchment.

The above details are correct at the time of preparing this document. Up-to-date flood classifications and other details for all flood warning stations in the network are at: